Division of Archaeology

Department of Archaeology and Anthropology

Projects


The Nepi Project

Project Directors

Project phase

Collaborating Institutions (in addition to financial supporters) and Project Members

  • Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge
  • Soprintendenza Archeologica per l'Etruria Meridionale (Dott.ssa D. Rizzo)
  • Prof. G. Pianu (Università di Perugia)
  • Dott. Franceso di Gennaro (Roma, francescodig@tiscalinet.it)

Financial Support

  • British Academy
  • British School at Rome
  • Comune di Nepi
  • Society of Antiquaries

Research aims and current results

Nepi (ancient Nepet) is a small urban centre at the boundary of the Faliscan territory in South East Etruria. It is in a highly fertile, well watered, dissected volcanic landscape, investigated over a long period by Italian and British Scholars. The modern and ancient city is located on a naturally defended volcanic spur between rivers. The area has a major historic interest since it is well known for resisting (successfully) the advance of the Etruscans and (unsuccessfully, although in the case Nepi peacefully) the advance of the Romans. The Faliscans were distinctive both for their language and aspects of their funerary ritual.

The aim of the Nepi project (which is a sub-project of the South Etruria Enhancement Project) is to provide information on urban development complementary to the relatively good knowledge of the rural landscape. A first phase of excavations was undertaken between 1991 and 1994 near the Vescovado (Bishop's Palace) and near the Convento di San Tolomeo to understand the stages of urban development.

A working model of urban development can now be presented. The spur was probably first occupied in the Bronze Age, but then abandoned and re-occupied in the eighth century BC. A small nucleus expanded in the course of the Archaic period (Vescovado excavations) and was greatly increased in size during the last centuries BC (Convento excavations). Maximum expansion was achieved in the early Roman period (excavations in Parco Pubblico by the Soprintendenza), outside the naturally defended area, before the city contracted to retain a nucleus in the area of the Vescovado in the late Roman period.

Principal publications

  • Edwards, C., Malone, C. and Stoddart, S. 1995. Reconstructing a gateway city: the place of Nepi in the study of south-eastern Etruria. In Christie, N. (ed.) Settlement and economy in Italy. 1500 BC - AD 1500. (Oxbow monograph 41). Oxford, Oxbow Books, 431-440.
  • di Gennaro, F., Cerasuolo, O., Colonna, C., Rajala, U., Stoddart, S. K. F. and Whitehead, N. 2002. Recent research on the city and territory of Nepi. Papers of the British School at Rome 70: 29-77.